Miron Muslic: We’re stepping up the workload again

Muslic’s side have completed three training sessions following a demanding training camp in Stubaital, with the standards remaining just as high back in Gelsenkirchen. “We’ve continued to train at a high intensity over the past few days and are stepping up the workload again in the fourth week of pre-season,” said Miron Muslic.

The Auestadion will be sold out for the first time in 11 years as Kassel, who play in the Regionalliga Südwest, become the fifth side Schalke have faced this pre-season. Muslic has a clear plan for the game: “We’ll stick with our usual shape in Kassel and play with a back three or five. Another priority for us as a coaching team is to give the players more minutes. We’re deliberately keeping the workload high because that is a key part of our preparations.”

The game will serve as a dress rehearsal for KSV, who are based in northern Hesse, a region traditionally home to a large number of Schalke supporters. The Lions return to competitive action a week later when they host Eintracht Frankfurt’s reserves. They finished sixth in their division last season and are coached by René Klingbeil, who previously played in the Bundesliga for Hamburger SV.